Taylor Marsh - News, Political Analysis, Foreign Policy, and Independent Political Opinion on Progressive Politics
Taylor Marsh has been writing on line since 1996, with the archives provided here a representation of that work.
Tag Archives | scienceThe Huffington Post has a very interesting report up on the video above.
It comes, of course, from NASA.
As for “Terra Nova,” it’s a new FOX series that I found fascinating, with Steven Spielberg as one of its producers. It’s not “Homeland,” but it’s good, even if some are upset about the finale.
Many say 2012 could be another 1964, with Republicans nominating a crazy person like Perry, but I’m not so sure. Of course, if Sarah Palin gets in, which I still doubt (she’s got her big fat contract with Fox), that’s exactly what it will turn out to be. With the issues facing our country so desperately serious, imagining Perry or Palin competing for the presidency against Pres. Obama makes me nauseous, because Palin just might be a better choice than Perry and even contemplating that thought sends me to the smelling salts.
This dynamic is just one reason Jon Huntsman’s interview with ABC’s Jake Tapper hit Republicans like a jolt of electricity. Paul Gigot had a hissy fit, because what Huntsman said not only hit a raw nerve, but has the virtue of being true.
TAPPER: You were one of the only, if not the only Republican candidate, to support the deal to raise the debt ceiling. You called Congresswoman Bachmann’s position a, quote, “crash and burn” approach. Would you trust a President Bachmann to do the right thing with the economy?
HUNTSMAN: Well, I wouldn’t necessarily trust any of my opponents right now, who were on a recent debate stage with me, when every single one of them would have allowed this country to default. [...]
Huntsman also said:
The minute that the Republican Party becomes the party – the anti-science party, we have a huge problem. We lose a whole lot of people who would otherwise allow us to win the election in 2012. When we take a position that isn’t willing to embrace evolution, when we take a position that basically runs counter to what 98 of 100 climate scientists have said, what the National Academy of Science – Sciences has said about what is causing climate change and man’s contribution to it, I think we find ourselves on the wrong side of science, and, therefore, in a losing position.
Perry is now leading in Iowa.
The race is pretty close four ways in Iowa but Rick Perry is the new favorite among Republican voters in the state. Among announced candidates he’s at 22% to 19% for Mitt Romney, 18% for Michele Bachmann, and 16% for Ron Paul. Further back are Herman Cain at 7%, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum at 5%, and Jon Huntsman at 3%.
Mitt Romney has been camped out in New Hampshire since 2009, a state he must win.
However, people in New Hampshire have a way of seeing through phonies and poseurs. So, what if they saw through Mitt Romney and rejected the low intellectual patter of Perry, Bachmann and the rest?
Jon Huntsman was also against Pres. Obama’s Libyan gamble and he also wants a swifter withdrawal from Afghanistan. Of course, his tax and policy on women’s freedoms are abysmal, but most people will be looking to the economy, which is moored in our relationship with China. Huntsman has more international game than any other Republican in the race.
Will voters in New Hampshire see through the Republican bench to Jon Huntsman, giving the serious Republican a shot? He’d sure bring back some intellectual mojo that’s dipped into ignoramus territory since the Tea Party faction took the House.
Obama versus Huntsman, now that would be a presidential debate worthy of our great country.
5:10:08 PM: It’s been a rock ‘n roll day at our house, compliments of Deep Tracks. Happy 4th to all. Fireworks in DC tonight!
5:12:28 PM: Thinking about our soldiers and the families who support them. Hu-rah. We toast you tonight.
6:29:40 PM: Walkin’ in. Past marshes.. beauty of a waterbird… and bull frogs! What a night.
8:36:12 PM: Potomac is a boat, dingy, yacht parking lot waiting for fireworks.
9:33:22 PM: THE MOST SPECTACULAR ART SHOW IN THE SKY EVER!!! What fireworks!!
–updated–
People wearing masks while walking down the street? That is the scene in Mexico and is frightening to see.
Tell that to Republicans (and some obtuse Democrats) who believe government has no role in our lives, not even on issues where only they can do the job.
Meanwhile, Obama can’t get his Health and Human Services (HHS) choice, Kathleen Sebelius, on the job because Republicans are playing politics with our health system.
John Nichols nails it today:
…When House Appropriations Committee chairman David Obey, the Wisconsin Democrat who has long championed investment in pandemic preparation, included roughly $900 million for that purpose in this year’s emergency stimulus bill, he was ridiculed by conservative operatives and congressional Republicans.
… But former White House political czar Karl Rove and key congressional Republicans — led by Maine Senator Susan Collins — aggressively attacked the notion that there was a connection between pandemic preparation and economic recovery.
Now, as the World Health Organization says a deadly swine flu outbreak that apparently began in Mexico but has spread to the United States has the potential to develop into a pandemic, Obey’s attempt to secure the money seems eerily prescient. …
It’s impossible to respect government’s role in society when you don’t understand what it can do for average citizens. We’ve seen what lack of regulations can do to our banking system. But the same lack of seriousness applies to public health. Republicans haven’t got a clue.
–updated–
President Obama will announce it today. After Mr. Bush, it actually does have to be announced.
When President Obama lifts restrictions on funding for human embryonic stem cell research today, he will also issue a presidential memorandum aimed at insulating scientific decisions across the federal government from political influence, officials said yesterday.
… Although officials would not go into details, the memorandum will order the Office of Science and Technology Policy to “assure a number of effective standards and practices that will help our society feel that we have the highest-quality individuals carrying out scientific jobs and that information is shared with the public,” said Harold Varmus, who co-chairs Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
“We view what happened with stem cell research in the last administration as one manifestation of failure to think carefully about how federal support of science and the use of scientific advice occurs,” Varmus said. “This is consistent with the president’s determination to use sound scientific practice, responsible practice of science and evidence, instead of dogma in developing federal policy.” [...]
–updated–
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George W. Bush talking about the “right to life” is like saying Bill
Kristol is right on Iran. (Did we not learn anything in Iraq?)
But today our president tried to push the “pro life” propaganda while
vetoing the very first bill of his presidency. A bill that would have brought hope
to millions; a bill that is backed by Nancy Reagan, Orin Hatch and many others.
What are conservatives saying about all this? They'd rather interview porn stars, which is so '90s. I should know, because that's when I interviewed Miyagi. By the way, she's running for office as a Republican. Oh, the irony.
But seriously, why is it that Bush cares so much about stem cells that will be discarded anyway,
but ignores Israel's continued shelling of civilians in Lebanon? Target Hezbollah,
yes, but it does no good, except to further alienate Israel, to blow out power
stations and civilian infrastructure. Can we not at least agree on that much?
Hey, but anything for the base, baby.
Sadly, the Republican controlled United States Senate couldn't even muster
a veto-proof margin. It doesn't get any more pathetic that this.
“This bill would support the taking of innocent human life of the hope
of finding medical benefits for others. It crosses a moral boundary that our
society needs to respect, so I vetoed it,” Bush said at a White House
event where he was surrounded by 18 families who “adopted” frozen
embryos that were not used by other couples, and then used those leftover
embryos to have children.“Each of these children was still adopted while still an embryo and
has been blessed with a chance to grow, to grow up in a loving family. These
boys and girls are not spare parts,” he said.The veto came a day after the Senate defied Bush and approved the legislation,
63-37, four votes short of the two-thirds margin needed to override. White
House officials and Republican congressional leaders claimed it was unlikely
that Congress could override the veto.
OVERRIDE BUSH'S STEM CELL VETO
HILLARY: Overturn Bush's Stem Cell Veto
UPDATE: This is just one story of why we must pressure Congress to overturn Bush's veto. Please take the time to listen to it. Also, remember Michael J. Fox and so many others whose lives could change through this research.
(Note: h/t to reader pm for the cartoon.)
